Brain Dump – August 5, 2012

I’ve come to a realization: blogging on a frequent basis through the summer months is slippery. I’ve decided that a better way to journey through the summer months with blogging is to capture all my ideas for the week in one post. If other posts happen to show up, that’s fine but a weekly brain dump will help me process better through the summer.

Here’s what’s been on my mind this past week…

This afternoon over 50 of us will be driving to Joplin for a four day missions experience. We’re making a conscious effort to develop relationships with other churches and ministries there and we’ve stayed in contact over the past year. I can’t wait to see how much healing and restoration has happened since I was there last June. Pray for us and for our hearts.

If you haven’t heard of One Day’s Wages before, take five minutes and think about giving away one day of your paycheck.

Leaders, your team is the most valuable part of your ministry, not your personality, your pedigree, or your opportunity. Pour into your team! Love them, lead them well, and be humble enough for honest feedback.

Ministry isn’t going to be perfect. In fact, a lot of times it’s better when it’s not. That’s what God’s been reminding me about a lot lately, that I need to let go of excellence if it means that authenticity is what’s at stake.

Getting another set of eyeballs, or multiple sets of them, on an idea can pay off with huge dividends in the end. It’s saved my butt more than a few times and it saved me again this week. Ask for opinions and leave your pride on the side.

As much as Pinterest is already cluttered up with fashion and home decor ideas that have zero appeal to the typical guy, including yours truly, I have found that a quick browse is a great kickstart to a brainstorming session. And I still have my man card.

The best commercial of the Olympics so far has been for Sunday Night Football. It can’t come soon enough.

I already have September 17th circled in my calendar. That’s when J.J. Abrams’ new show, “Revolution,” premieres on NBC. Part of what made LOST so great, among many things, was the writers’ ability to tell a great backstory and breathe details into the characters. I hope it doesn’t disappoint.